Definition Definition

foundation - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'foundation' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Foundation [ n.]
- The act of founding, fixing, establishing, or beginning to erect.
- That upon which anything is founded; that on which anything stands, and by which it is supported; the lowest and supporting layer of a superstructure; groundwork; basis.
- The lowest and supporting part or member of a wall, including the base course (see Base course (a), under Base, n.) and footing courses; in a frame house, the whole substructure of masonry.
- A donation or legacy appropriated to support a charitable institution, and constituting a permanent fund; endowment.
- That which is founded, or established by endowment; an endowed institution or charity.

Meaning of 'foundation' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . foundation [ n]
Meaning (1):
- education or instruction in the fundamentals of a field of knowledge
Example in sentence:
  • a good grounding in mathematics;
  • he lacks the foundation necessary for advanced study
Meaning (2):
- lowest support of a structure
Example in sentence:
  • he stood at the foot of the tower;
  • it was built on a base of solid rock
Meaning (3):
- the act of starting something for the first time; introducing something new
Example in sentence:
  • she looked forward to her initiation as an adult;
  • the foundation of a new scientific society
Meaning (4):
- the fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or developed or calculated or explained
Example in sentence:
  • the whole argument rested on a basis of conjecture
Meaning (5):
- the basis on which something is grounded
Example in sentence:
  • there is little foundation for his objections